Erythropoietin therapy for early diabetic retinopathy through its protective effects on retinal pericytes

Medical Hypotheses, 11/11/2010Wang ZY et al.

The authors hypothesize that erythropoietin reduces the loss of retinal pericytes, and therefore can be used as a novel therapeutic agent for early form of Diabetic retinopathy (DR), which is based on its antioxidant, anti–inflammatory, and neuroprotective properties. If successful, future studies based on this hypothesis may also help shield the lights on the molecular mechanisms of early DR.